Naah! If they'd offered a Rapid TDI AT *then* maybe! Personaly I think VW badge value outstrips Skoda (though the Rapid is a looker compared to my plain Jane Fraulein!). So no regrets at all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2cents

Is the thought too alien?! Afterall, there are clear reasons why they banned opinion polls. Just ask @shivank two posts above. But of course, where there is a huge margin of victory there can't be any doubts. All hail the XUV 5-double 'o'!

I went and checked the comment in question. Also iliketurtles seems to have done some in-depth research on this, so will take you people's word for it! I *was* surprised by the results (after I voted) because I expected the Verna to give a good fight to XUV. But how much of that is herd mentality is up for debate. Personally the only dealbreaker with Verna for me is the baotlike handling. Presumably enthusiasts such as the type that vote in T-BHP polls have that high on their priority list?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

If I'd to vote with my heart alone, the S60 T6 AWD would get my vote. But the car of the year has to be relevant to the market, hence the XUV500 for me.

That's a very good point. Companies like Volvo and Nissan are losing the plot by not focusing on generating numbers. What good is a "good" car if you see only a handful of those on the road?

No brainer. Just skimmed the list and voted for XUV-double 'o'. Had it been launched just a few months earlier, I would have been first in the queue on First Day First Show.
Though looking back, now they don't have an AT yet, so no regrets

We don't see history in the making too often. Do we ? The launch of XUV 5OO has led to a paradigm shift in the Indian auto market. We all hoped that Nano would be a game-changer, but alas! it wasn't to be, neither is the Eon a game changer. But, one thing's for sure, the folks from M&M have sent the BIG BOYS of the automobile world scurrying for cover

Given its spot on pricing, looks (I like it), gizmos, performance (not TD'ed, just read) and space - I'm 6'6" and can sit in it comfortably, quite unlike in the Scorpio, my vote goes to the XUV as well.

I think it's probably the best looker to come out of the Indian stables so far...just makes me wonder if it's the same design team that drew up the Xylo!!

Voted for XUV5OO, for the same reasons that most of them have quoted earlier. Plus, the more I see of this SUV on the roads, the more I am tempted to own one. It looks Rock solid, makes a statement on road and drives like a breeze (as per my test drive). I hope Mahindra improves the quality of the interiors and plastics in the near future. Rest I guess is full "paisa Vasoool".

Hyundai Verna, Force One & Mahindra XUV500 were the ones I wanted to choose from the list.

Force One is there for being a proper size SUV, something closer to heart. It would have been the top if not skimped on safety features, despite being a Chinese imitation. It's got to my list purely for the heart, but strongly opposed by mind. Sad to see it has got 0 votes so far! (If I know it before hand, I would have voted for it, just to give it a start. I want it to be encouraged.)

Verna is a great transformation, from born again Hyundai. I'm not exactly a Hyundai fan, but this car earns full respect. it's really hard to find fault with it & deserves a top slot, if we don't have a patriotic contender in the same year.

XUV500 brought sarcastic laughs on seeing first pics. But it looks much better in person. Mahindra impressed with features list & bringing it all together, much better than other Indian manufacturers. My only grouse, is that it's a 5-seater SUV with 2 bonus kid seats at the cost of luggage space. It also won the heart & the mind doesn't object too much. So XUV500 it is for me.

(It's my personal choice for COTY. It's not fully rational & I follow heart more than the mind. I respect & love to see other's choices as well.)

The Mahindra XUV 500 is more than just a car of the year for me. It is a game changer primarily because it recognizes the need gap which existed till yesterday. The 4-wheel aspiration scale is changing drastically, it is no more a clim up from a cheap hatch to a midrange sedan to an expensive SUV. Its more about personality types and their preferences. The hatch and sedan markets pollinated with fantastic options between 2000-10. The SUV segment was waiting to burst open. XUV 500 did just that, democratized the idea of an exciting offroader (albiet a soft one). Recognizing that an SUV aspiration is not a function of one's economic status but a function of the person and his lifestyle. Ofcourse i've got my own